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Chapter Two: The Arrival of Mr. Wood
One week later everyone had pretty much adjusted to the new Hermione. It was hardly necessary that Mr. Weasley inform the aging Headmaster, but he thought it a good idea all the same.
Ginny was ecstatic with the new Hermione. She may have still played quiditch, but her heart lay with Witch Weekly and the newest fashions. Although this in no way interested her female friend, Ginny continued to attempt to clothe Hermione in the latest designs.
Of course Hermione humored Ginny as best as she could.
Oliver Wood was supposedly coming by some time during the week for "Order business" with Mr. Weasley. Ron, Ginny, Harry, Fred and George continuously played quiditch in hopes that they would be playing when Oliver arrived and therefore could play with them.
Hermione deemed to lie on the picnic table and watch, along with the occasional novel. Even the fact that she was now a Potter did not change her views on the rather, in her opinion, vulgar sport.
Donning a thin, although long, light purple skirt, deep blue halter and braided hair, Hermione left her room carrying one of the addictive Vampire Chronicles in her left hand and strappy sandals in her right, so as to assure Mrs. Weasley she would not step on anything in the yard.
The sandals were dropped as soon as she went around the bend and out of sight of the kitchen windows. Hermione still hated shoes with a venom. Not as much as she hated quiditch, of course.
Feeling in a slightly happy mood for God knows what reason, Hermione lay in her usual pose on the table; on her stomach, feet in the air, arms bent at the elbows, hands cushioning her chin.
The novel was laid on one of the benches next to her, Hermione didn't notice which when she dropped it. The game was vicious today on account of some sort of blackmail one team was plying against the other.
Hermione had a particularly good view because she had moved the picnic table to get closer. Being in her "happy" mood, she readily supplied compliments to her brother's team.
"GET THE BLOODY SNITCH!" she shrieked after a sort of Wronksy-whatever-the-hell-it-was-feint-thingy that Fred had executed very nicely and almost knocked Harry off his broom. It wasn't really a feint though, because Hermione caught a sight of glittering gold for a second. There was stifled laughter behind her. Assuming which brother it was, Hermione's neck snapped around with a comment on her tongue.
"Well, excuse me, Bi --" she was cut off, however, because the young man behind her was most definitely not a Weasley.
"I see you like quiditch," said the heavy Scottish brogue with a slight smile. Almost as if she was in a muggle movie, a strand of Hermione's hair fell off in front of her face. As she pushed it back, Hermione realized who it was.
"Harry'll want to know you're here," she replied, not correcting the former quiditch captain's assumption. She slide off the table and jogged into the middle of the field, hearing the light squish of grass behind her as Oliver followed her.
"HARRY BLOODY POTTER GET YOUR BLOODY ARSE DOWN HERE NOW!" Hermione yelled, hands cupped around her mouth. There was an almost audible squeak as the game stopped and everyone looked down.
"Hermione, swearing? Is the sky falling? Quick someone, look," joked Ron to Ginny. She pretended not to listen, and instead stared at the specks down below. Specks.
"Wood's here," Ginny replied, and launched off towards the ground. Ron followed behind her, then in front as he pushed ahead.
The two were neck and neck as they hurtled towards the ground. At the last moment Ginny turned her broom parallel and landed lightly with the sort of the ladylike grace Mrs. Weasley had been trying to infuse in her for years. Ron hit the ground with a crack, but managed to get up all the same.
Harry had reached the ground before them and was already talking animatedly to Wood. Fred and George landed the same time as their younger siblings. They clasped arms in the sort of manly way with Wood that always confused Ginny and Hermione.
The two girls radiated towards each other, and whispered lightly as the boys discussed quiditch and Wood's new teaching job.
"So, Hermione . . ." giggle Ginny, trailing off on purpose. Turning a rather becoming shade of red that match her highlights, Hermione slapped Ginny on the arm.
"Really, Ginny, you prat," snapped Hermione, staring away from her friend pointedly. This turned out to be a bad idea, however, because she managed to look Oliver Wood straight in the eye. A muffled giggle to her right brought her out of a reverie, and Hermione hit Ginny again, this time harder and on the head.
"God, completely forgot," said Harry, noticing the direction Wood was looking. "Ginny and my sister, Hermione." Wood's eyes snapped back to Harry.
"Sister? Same Hermione Granger?" he asked, expecting the obvious no.
"Yep, Hermione Potter now though," answered Hermione, tilting her head. As Ginny let off a snort, Hermione's left foot banged into Ginny's right ankle. As her friend almost collapsed, Hermione turned into the model of sisterly concern.
"Oh, Ginny, whatever happened?" cooed Hermione unconvincingly, "Why don't you sit here, or possibly back at the house?" Ginny straightened her right leg and glared at her friend.
"I don't know Hermione, whatever DID happen?" The boys exchanged tired looks and headed towards the house. Hermione and Ginny lagged behind, exchanging glares, and then laughter.
Hermione lay on her bed at the Burrow, playing with the letter in her hands. The envelope, which was still strangely heavy, lay on her stomach. Dropping the letter, Hermione picked up the envelope with the frown, and dug around inside.
Her fingers brushed a soft package at the bottom corner. Pulling it out, Hermione looked at the small corner of cloth in her hands. Being in a rather uncomfortable position, Hermione sat up and began opening the tiny cloth bag.
Lying in the palm of her hand, nestled in soft baby pink cloth was a silver necklace. The circular charm was woven and carven with designs of leaves and other things. It was heavy, though not obstinately so. It was on a rather delicate chain, but Hermione sensed that it was stronger than it looked.
She undid the clasp and put the necklace on. When she looked in Ginny's mirror, she noticed how the necklace lay just above the low neckline of her halter-top. Perhaps her mother had been the same size as her daughter.
Tears came to her eyes as she thought of a woman she had never even seen. Maybe Harry had pictures of them somewhere. Their parents. It had never occurred to her that her parents were dead, not once during the many days she had known she was Harry's sister.
Fat tears squeezed out of her slitted eyes and Hermione hated herself for it. Harry was so strong, stronger than she could ever be, it seemed.
The muffled voices downstairs brought her back to reality, away from the clouds of green light that had clouded her vision. If Harry did have pictures of Lily and James Potter, they would be in his cloak, upstairs in his trunk.
And he was downstairs talking to Wood.
Making up her mind, Hermione wiped away the tears and tiptoed out to the landing, and then hearing no movement, crept up the stairs to the final floor, where Ron's room was. The door was partially open, and Hermione pushed it open further.
It squeaked, but Hermione was sure that no one could here it down in the living room. Harry's trunk was pressed against the edge of the hastily made bed that was Ron's. Pulling up the cover, Hermione closed her eyes until she felt the silky material of the Invisibility Cloak.
She shook it out, and a worn book fell out. Hermione picked it up, and opened it slowly. There, waving back at her, were the two people she knew were her parents. Sobbing, Hermione clutched the book to her chest, and felt weak as the tears fell again.
Squeak.
Only one stair squeaked, and that was on the landing below Hermione. Quickly Hermione closed the trunk and pushed it back to beside the bed. She swung the Invisibility Cloak around her shoulders and clutched the ends to her chest.
Wait, where was the photo album?
Looking around frantically, Hermione caught sight of it behind the door. She hadn't closed the door! Scrambling, Hermione grabbed the book and hit the door back to its former position. Praying whoever was coming upstairs hadn't seen the door close, Hermione threw herself into the only vacant corner and held her breath.
Ron burst into the room, followed by Harry and Oliver. An inflatable mattress was thrown into Hermione's corner and hit her. The breath she had been carefully holding was knocked out of her, and she bit her lip.
Ron and Harry mumbled something to Oliver that she couldn't hear because her ears were ringing. They disappeared and Oliver Wood threw himself onto the mattress. Hermione curled up farther, and threw her head back.
It hit the wall with a snap, and Hermione inwardly cursed. It seemed, however, that Wood hadn't heard because he hadn't moved.
Listening to his breath until it was even, Hermione stepped over the mattress corner that trapped her, and moved towards the door. There was a slithering sound suddenly, and the cloak fell from around to pool quite visibly around her bare feet.
Turning, Hermione found herself staring into the face of Oliver Wood, who was awake and holding the corner of the cloak in his hand.
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I know that I haven't updated in FOREVER, but my many reviews for this story inspired me. Hee hee hee hee. TA FAIR READERS!
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